Sparky’s Column

Sand and Sandwiches

The latest addition to the coaching fraternity here in the UAE is Argentinian Gabriel Calderon who replaces Jorvan Vieira at Bani Yas. I have five key facts about the latest coach to come through the revolving door.

1. He played for Argentina in both the 1982 and 1990 World Cups.

2. He led Saudi Arabia to the World Cup in 2006 only to be relieved of his position before the competition.

3. He has won silverware with two different clubs in Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal and Al Ittihad.

4. His playing career took him from Argentina to Spain and finally Switzerland.

5.  He has won 65% of his games as a coach losing only 12.5% He was touted as the next coach of the UAE national team but is now is charge of a team that has gone through very turbulent times. On paper he seems the man with the experience of the region and know how to push Bani Yas back to the top.

Al Alhli continue to crumble under the pressure of expectation. The team have only amassed three points in a dismal start to the season.  New coach Flores has brought no rest bite and he must be left wondering what to do after a 4-0 defeat to Al Nasr. The Spaniard will not have the luxury of time when it comes to turning the season around, the pressure is on after the worlds shortest honeymoon period. 

I mentioned the UAE beach soccer team last week. They finished 4th in the Intercontinental Cup after losing to eventual champions Russia. I was commentating at the tournament and managed to have a chat with UAE coach Mendes. He talked about his hopes for a league in the UAE to help his team can reach the upper echelons of the sport.  It would be great to see a Beach Pro League set up, it would add to the fine tradition of the clubs promoting all sports and not just the 11-a-side game.  

I would't be a weekly column unless I mentioned Maradona. He returned soon after his Mothers funeral so he could be at the match versus Emirates Club. It was an extremely tough time for Diego but he could take some comfort from his teams 2- 1 victory. Is there any sign of the Maradona effect waining? Simple answer is no, Emirates Club had the biggest attendence of the weekend with 4,900 at the game. 

The final note should goto Al Wahda's narrow 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. You may now be rubbing your eyes in disbelief, surely Newcastle drew against Manchester United at the weekend, well technically they did. This was a radio competition on 5live in the UK, the sausage sandwich game to be exact. The two contestants are pitted against each other whilst representing a team, Mat from Abu Dhabi went for Al Wahda and his opponent Newcastle. The tie break question went like this, would guest and former Sheffield United manager Dave Bassett have brown sauce, red sauce or no sauce at all on his sausage sandwich. The defeat was down to Bassett's choice of brown sauce. Trust me you need to listen to fully understand or ask Matt in Abu Dhabi to explain at the next Al Wahda home game. 

 

You can listen on the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/bigscreen/radio/episode/b017lz4m/